If you were planning to head out to a provincial park this spring to enjoy the outdoors, you’re out of luck. They are the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday (March 18), Ontario’s minister of health Christine Elliott and minister of environment, conservation and parks Jeff Yurek issued a statement that Ontario provincial parks would be closed to the public from Thursday, March 19th until Thursday, April 30th.
The closure includes car camping, backcountry camping, roofed accommodations, day use opportunities, and all public buildings.
The decision to close the parks was made “to ensure public safety and the well-being of our visitors and staff in Ontario’s provincial parks”, according to the statement.
Current visitors to provincial parks will be required to vacate by Thursday (March 19).
Any person or group with a reservation for arrival up to Thursday, April 30th will be automatically provided a full refund with no penalty.
As penalty-free refunds will automatically be issued, the public is asked to avoid cancelling reservations online, as this may trigger an automatic penalty.
